Global Warming is Dead!

I saw this yesterday, but wanted to post on it again. According to IBD, scientist are finally admitting that the "consensus" that Al Gore used to make his billions, is not adding up. In other words, all the alarmist using red herring of global warming to stifle capitalism is not true.

As scientists confirm the earth has not warmed at all in the past decade, others wonder how this could be and what it means for Copenhagen. Maybe Al Gore can Photoshop something before December.

It will be a very cold winter of discontent for the warm-mongers. The climate show-and-tell in Copenhagen next month will be nothing more than a meaningless carbon-emitting jaunt, unable to decide just whom to blame or how to divvy up the profitable spoils of climate change hysteria.

The collapse of the talks coupled with the decision by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to put off the Kerry-Boxer cap-and-trade bill, the Senate's version of Waxman-Markey, until the spring thaw has led Oklahoma Sen. James Inhofe, the leading Republican on the Environment and Public Works Committee, to declare victory over Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., and the triumph of observable fact over junk science.

"I proudly declare 2009 as the 'Year of the Skeptic,' the year in which scientists who question the so-called global warming consensus are being heard," Inhofe said to Boxer in a Senate speech. "Until this year, any scientist, reporter or politician who dared raise even the slightest suspicion about the science behind global warming was dismissed and repeatedly mocked."

Read the rest here.

I hope all you who bought into this garbage will be a bit more skeptical in the future. Our planet is regulated, but not by man. It's regulated by a sovereign God, who has designed it to handle man, and all our uses. No, I'm not advocating ruining the planet. But we are not powerful enough to destroy it.

The same people who claim global warming are also those who claimed global cooling back in the 1970s. Even then, we only had 10 years before the planet launched into an irreversible ice age. But alas, many of you who bought into global warming were too young to remember this and bought into Al Gore's lies.

Am I gloating... a bit. Forgive me for that. I'm just so sick of these doom and gloom prophets of environment running and ruining life as we no it. If we give ourselves over to them, we will move back into caves.

Landed... in Jackson, TN

Our New Home
We've finally landed in Jackson, TN. After 2 weeks of basically living out of our Mercury Monterrey, we've moved into our new home here in Jackson. Since we moved using PODS, I had to recruit some help, go over to Memphis, load up our essentials on a U-Haul, and bring it back here.

We did that on Saturday. I could not have done it without the gracious help of the elders from the church. They were real blessings. On top of their help, the wives brought us dinner that night. Sloppy Joe's, baked beans and the best apple cobbler I've had in a long time. The fellowship really was wonderful, and I made the comment that we needed to strive for that fellowship again without the excuse of moving. I'm hoping that our next round of fellowship will involve a round of golf, since the four of us (the elders) all make up for one very bad foresome. The perfect foursome... we just want to play and have fun.

Preaching
On top moving, I also preached yesterday. Needless to say, neither my sermon nor my teaching time were my best. We've noticed that with so much going on, even the simplest tasks are difficult. Preaching doesn't fall in the "simplest" category. Elisa said I was discombobulated, and I was. Hopefully we will get some rest this week and things will return to normal, whatever that means.

Bowl Eligible
I also noticed that my Aggies became Bowl Eligible on Saturday by beating Baylor. That is good. They've won 2 more games than they won last year. O, the shades of mediocrity!

Finished and Heading to Jackson, TN

We finished up the interview process yesterday after worship. As many of you know, we have been interviewing at a church here in New Braunfels, TX for an associate pastorate position. The process has been tiring, but really good because we got to meet a lot of brothers and sisters in the Lord, and we felt like we were family. They were extremely kind and gracious towards us, and I have to say, it's been a wonderful experience.

We drove out to one of the church member's home after service yesterday. They wanted us to relax with them and take it easy. We did that as much as possible as two parents can do, when there was a swimming pool, three dogs, and three other boys thrown into the mix. Our hosts were completely at ease with the thought of all six boys falling into the pool. I wasn't. So... there was time to relax and rest, but when the boys were playing around the pool, and Elisa and I had our radars on full scan mode since neither Andy nor Joey can swim. We managed to pull away several hours later, with semi-dry boys. No one fell in the pool.

As for relaxing, I tried to put Joey down for a nap in one of their back rooms. The only one who fell asleep was me. He kept waking up at every bark of the dog, or jet that would fly by. So it was fruitless, except I caught a few winks of sleep.

Since arriving on Wednesday, we have been well fed and taken care of. On the menu was chicken-fried steak, Texas omelets, prime rib, bratwurst, venison, pasta, and last, but NOT least, Texas Barbecue! Yup! We stopped at a place last night on the way back to the cottage, via Canyon Lake, called Texas Pit Barbecue. It was excellent. All beef, NO PORK!!! Brisket cooked slowly over a smoking fire is the best in the world. We introduced it to both Joey and Andy and they loved it. Yes, they are true Texans.

As for worship, it was the best I have experienced in a long time. The choir was excellent, the sermon was solid and the best around, communion was served as well. I have to say that their style of worship was similar to what I wanted to do in Aiken. Elisa and I really enjoyed being in the presence of the Lord.

What made the difference? I don't believe it was just the elements that were included, but also the prayer and thought that went into those elements before we gathered. Before Sunday school, the pastor and all the officers gathered for morning prayer. Pastor Dick opened in prayer and prayed for each element of worship: the call to worship, the corporate confession of sin, the confession of faith, the pastoral prayer, the reading of God's word, the sermon, communion, and even the benediction. I believe God truly answers his prayer on all of those.

They also prayed for those in the church, for one another, for our country and a host of other issues. The point is that this church is well grounded in prayer. I didn't get the sense that they were just going through the motions either. The prayers seemed to be heart-felt and sincere. That may be why we felt so at home with this group of people. The LORD was answering those prayers. Would it be that all churches pray together as much...

We are heading back to Jackson, TN later this morning. My hope is to take it easy and stop in either Texarkana or Little Rock. We could make the drive all in one day, but that would be hard. Since the house we are staying in is not ready, we might as well take our time.

As for the pictures above, the first one is of the Comal River here in New Braunfels. It is the shortest river in the world. That is just one view of it. The water is crystal clear and very cold. That shot was taken about 200 yards from the beginning of the river, which is completely spring fed. This area is known as the land of a thousand springs, and one of them feeds the Comal.

The other one was taken at the Gristmill Restaurant, where we ate on Thursday. I thought it captured some of the Texas culture.

ART -- By Andy

While at one of the local restaurants in Gruene, TX, Andy took the above photos with my camera. He has an interesting eye for photos. In fact, he is probably one of the greatest 4-year-old photographers to come about in the last 15 years! The first shot is called "Wood Grain." The second shot, one that I think he particularly likes, is call "Ketchup Bottle." He likes Ketchup.

I hope you enjoy the photos as much as we enjoyed eating the chicken-fried steak at the Gristmill Restaurant in Gruene, TX (pronounced Green, TX. It's German... the first vowel is silent when there are two vowels together). The restaurant is in an old mill over looking the Guadulupe River and really captures the Texas culture in this area. The food was excellent, along with the atmosphere, since we ate outside overlooking the river. The weather was here and I wish you were beautiful... (a little Jimmy Buffet lingo there).

Quick Note

Just wanted to give a quick note: We are in Texas for a job interview that is going very well. We are among the Mesquite and Cedar trees, Austin stone, and saturated in the Texas culture. We are loving every minute of it. Tomorrow: Mexican food!

Hopefully, we will get some Texas barbecue as well. My poor wife is mad because she is missing out on the Mexican food. I will have to bring her some. Please pray for me and the job interview. We love the people, and so far, it seems like a great fit.

Packing Up!

Yes, just letting you know, I haven't quit blogging, but very busy packing up the house. Two PODS arrived yesterday, and we are busy filling them up with our possessions. Our ETD (Estimated Time of Departure for those of you in Rio Linda), is this coming Sunday. We will no longer be residents of the great state of South Carolina.

We made a lot of friends here, and will miss all of them. Hopefully, we will still be able to keep in touch with many of them.

BTW, the picture is from our vacation last week. Some of the members of NCPC were gracious enough to let us use their beach house down at Edisto Island last week. We had a wonderful time! This picture is of me holding the boys, and keeping them from being swept out to sea. We went to the beach JUST to look for shells, but they had other ideas. They wanted to jump in the waves, so... we did!

Happy Birthday!

If I remember correctly, my brother should be 39 now! Happy Birthday. I hope it was a good one.

Hhm?

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The God of the Bible is a Strange God

I love what Michael Horton writes in his latest book, The Gospel-Driven Life. He writes:

The God of the Bible is a strange God-- not the kind of God we can manage, manipulate, accommodate, or domesticate to our familiar experience. We cannot find this God by looking within ourselves. His Word is not the same as our inner voice. He cannot be pared down to our size, measured by our speculations, experiences, or felt needs. Rather, he stands over against us, telling us how things actually are. When God actually confronts us, our speculations are exposed as idols, our experience judged as little more than a projection of ourselves, and our felt needs give way to more pressing needs that we did not even realize that we had. God confronts us, disorients us, and pulls us outside of our comfort zones. If we feel naked and ashamed, then it's a good sign that we are actually in the presence of the God of the Bible.

I wish that more Christians would spend time reading Horton's books. They are masterpieces of explanation when it comes to the Gospel of Christ.

Star Spangled Banner

Saw this on FB, and thought it was worth sharing. These little girls hit it perfectly. You might save it for the 4th of July as well.

Jewish Whassup!!!

Some ethnic humor for your pleasure. Yes, I know, not politically correct. But alas...


If we can't laugh at ourselves, then we are panty-wearing liberals.

Floating Around the Internet

I found this on Facebook, but's been floating around the internet and even on Neil Bortz's show. I think it's an excellent explanation of the differences between conservatives and liberals.

• If a conservative does not like guns, he does not buy one. If a liberal does not like guns, he wants all guns outlawed.
• If a conservative is a vegetarian, he does not eat meat. If a liberal is a vegetarian, he wants all meat products banned for everyone.
• If a conservative sees a foreign threat, he thinks about how to defeat his enemy. A liberal wonders how to surrender gracefully and still look good.
• If a conservative is homosexual, he quietly leads his life. If a liberal is homosexual, he demands legislated respect.
• If a black man or Hispanic are conservative, they see themselves as independently successful. Their liberal counterparts see themselves as victims in need of government protection.
• If a conservative is down-and-out, he thinks about how to better his situation. A liberal wonders who is going to take care of him.
• If a conservative doesn’t like a talk show host, he switches channels. Liberals demand that those they don’t like be shut down.
• If a conservative is a non-believer, he does not go to church. A liberal non-believer wants any mention of God and religion silenced. (Unless it’s a foreign religion, of course!)
• If a conservative decides he needs health care, he goes about shopping for it, or may choose a job that provides it. A liberal demands that the rest of us pay for his.
• If a conservative slips and falls in a store, he gets up, laughs and is embarrassed. If a liberal slips and falls, he grabs his neck, moans like he’s in labor and then sues.
• If a conservative reads this, he’ll link to it so his friends can have a good laugh. A liberal will type in the url for the ACLU because he’s “offended”

Silly Dreams of Three Kings

The photographers and reporters kept asking how I felt about having lunch with Prince Charles and his wife, ahem... Margaret Thatcher. After all, Maggie was sitting right next to me, and Prince Charles was sitting on the other side of her. We were all eating lunch, and there were reporters and photographers every where asking all of us, there were more at the table, about how lucky we were to be eating with royalty.

I tried to tell them I had had lunch with royalty before. After all, turns out that Larry G., from my former church, was in line for the throne in... I think, Croatia. Yup, Larry G. was royalty in exile. But he had no intentions of heading back to Croatia to assume the throne at all. He was more dedicated to his wife, family, and Christ here in the states. So as far as he was concerned, he had all the royalty he needed.

Then there was the guy in seminary who was royalty as well. I only had lunch with him once, and I can't remember what country he was exiled from.

So having lunch with Prince Charles, and his wife, Maggie Thatcher, was an honor. But not the first time I had lunch with royalty. Maggie was being so nice. It was Maggie's decision that they had lunch with us, because she visited Joey in the hospital, he was sick, and fell in love with my boy. She wanted to make sure we had everything we needed to get through the ordeal. After all, allergies can be so... pesky.

The reporters droned on and on, about how privileged we were to eat with royalty. Finally, I brought up Christ. I told them that while this was an honor, and we were honored, (this was after Maggie and Prince C left), that it was nothing compared to the honor of knowing the True King, Jesus Christ and being known by Him. While all those kingdoms were important, they would one day all fade away, and be replaced by His Kingdom. It was far more important to be known by Christ, and to know Him, than to sit in all the palaces of this world. I was trying to explain this to one reporter when...

"GET UP!" Andy woke me up. Turns out, it was just a silly dream. Thank goodness for that. My hair was a mess and I didn't want all those pictures of me and Maggie being published since I had bed head.